Despite its massive box-office failure, Suriya and Bobby Deol’s Kanguva secures a spot in the Oscars 2025 eligibility list, sparking surprise and debate among fans and critics.
January 7, 2025: One of the most highly anticipated Indian films of 2024, Kanguva, directed by Siruthai Siva and starring Suriya, Bobby Deol, and Disha Patani, failed to live up to sky-high expectations. With a staggering budget of ₹300-350 crore, the film struggled at the box office, grossing only ₹106 crore worldwide. Despite its commercial failure, Kanguva has now made an unexpected leap by securing a spot in the Oscars 2025 eligibility list alongside critically acclaimed Indian films like Shuchi Talati’s Girls Will Be Girls and Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light.
Also Read: After Indian 2 and Kanguva Flops, Tamil Producers Blame Critics, Demand 3-Day Review Ban
From Box Office Flop to Academy Spotlight
After its underwhelming theatrical run, Kanguva shifted to OTT platforms, where it garnered moderate viewership. However, its inclusion in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ list of 323 eligible feature films has raised eyebrows. Among the 207 films qualifying for the Best Picture category, six Indian movies have made the cut:
- Kanguva (Tamil)
- Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life (Hindi)
- Santosh (Hindi)
- Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (Hindi)
- All We Imagine as Light (Malayalam-Hindi)
- Girls Will Be Girls (Hindi-English)
Why the Oscar Nod?
While Kanguva struggled commercially, experts speculate that its technical brilliance, visual effects, and ambitious scale could have impressed the Academy’s selection committee. Additionally, Indian films are often evaluated based on their cultural representation and cinematic craftsmanship, not just box-office performance.
Netizens React
Social media is buzzing with mixed reactions. While many fans celebrated Kanguva‘s inclusion in the Oscars race, others questioned the selection criteria.
“How did a film that flopped so badly make it to the Oscars list?” asked one user. Another fan countered, “Oscars aren’t just about box office numbers. It’s about vision, execution, and impact.”
The Road Ahead
The final nominations for the 97th Academy Awards will be announced in January 2025, and it remains to be seen whether Kanguva can defy the odds and secure a coveted nomination.
For now, the film’s journey from a box-office disaster to a potential Oscars contender remains one of the most surprising turnarounds in Indian cinema this year.
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Suriya, Bobby Deol, Kanguva Oscars 2025, Tamil Cinema, Indian Films at Oscars, Girls Will Be Girls, All We Imagine as Light, Siruthai Siva, Indian Films at Academy Awards, Oscars 2025 Contenders, Indian Cinema Global Recognition.
